Mechanism for lifting and rotating reels of various sizes



July 30, 1963 M. J. CHRISTIANSEN 3,099,117

MECHANISM FOR LIFTING AND ROTATING REELS OF VARIOUS SIZES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 16, 1962 (Mani uwwhbwwhia waq INVENTOE IVLJ.CHl2\ST\ANSEN,d.ecea.sedJ, Y BLANCHE ECHRISUANSEN, executrnc BY Q. C. M

ATT

y 30, 1963 M. J. CHRISTIANSEN 3,099,117

MECHANISM FOR LIFTING AND ROTATING REELS OF VARIOUS SIZES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 16, 1962 INVENTOR M.J.CHR\STlANSEN,decea;eaL, j bY BLANCHE E.CHR\STIAN5EN,

executnx July 30, 1963 M. J. CHRISTIANSEN 3,099,117

MECHANISM FOR LIFTING AND ROTATING REELS OF VARIOUS SIZES 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 16, 1962 INVENTOR M.J. CHE|STIANSEN, :Leceased., b BLANCHE E.CH lSTlANSENpxecutnx m BY C AT R EY United States Patent i as 3,099,117 MECHANISM 1 0R LEFTLNG AND RQTATING HEELS (3F VARIOUS SlZild Milton J. (Ihristiansen, deceased, late of Brcolriield, llil., hy Blanche E. Christiansen, executrix, Broolrfielrl, 13L, assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Apr. 16, 1962, Ser. No. 189,223 7 Claims. (Cl. 53198) This invention relates to mechanism for lifting and rotating reels or" various sizes, and more particularly to mechanism for lifting reels of various sizes to a work position in a lagging machine in oriented relation to lags being fed thereto and for rotating the reels.

Cables used in the field :of communications vary in size and are wound on reels which also vary in size both in diameter and in width. Because of the variations in width and diameter of the reels, problems are presented in connection with the positioning, supporting, and rotating of the reels in work positions in lagging machines or the like for processing the reels.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved mechanism for lifting reels of various sizes to predetermined work positions and for imparting rotation thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanism for lifting reels of various sizes from a loading station to a work station in a lagging machine in a predetermined oriented relation to the lags being fed thereto.

A structure illustrating certain aspects of the invention for lifting reels of various sizes to a work position in a lagging machine may include a pair of lifting arms supported at one end thereof on a base for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis below the work position. A selectively operable drive moves the lifting arms to a lower position in straddling relation to a reel supported on a carriage which is mounted on the base at a loading station for movement parallel to the horizontal axis. A pair of arbors for supporting the reel are carried by the arms in parallel relation to the axis and are adapted to be moved toward and away from the axis by power operated devices on the arms. A power operated device is carried on one of the lifting arms for moving one of the arbors axially toward the other to effect the supporting engagement of the reel therebetween, after which the arms are actuated about the axis to lift the reel from the loading station to the work position with the reel supported in a predetermined oriented relation to a row of lags being advanced horizontally in the lagging machine. Rotation is imparted to one of the atbors and to the reel in its work position by a power operated drive carried .by one of the lifting arms.

Other objects, advantages and novel aspects of the invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view of a reel lagging machine showing the reel lifting mechanism in its lower or loading position in full lines and in its upper or work position in dotted lines;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan View of the lagging machine with the reel lifting mechanism in upright position; and

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view through the machine taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and showing the reel lifting mechanism in its upright position with portions [thereof in section.

Referring now to the drawings, particularly FIG. 1, a portion of a lagging machine 15' is shown which includes a horizontal conveyor 16 for advancing a row of Fatented July 30, 1963 ice lags 17 to move the lags successively into a work station 19 and below a reel 20 supported therein and in tangent relation llO the rims 21 of the reel. The conveyor is which is supported on a frame 22 mounted on a base 23 is selectively driven by a suitable drive (not shown). Mechanism 25 is provided for lifting reels 20 of various sizes from a loading station '26 on the base 23 to the work station 19 and :for supponting and rotating the reel at the latter station. At the loading station 26, the reel 20 is rolled onto a carriage 28 and supported thereon with the axis of the reel disposed parallel to the lags 17 on the conveyor 16. The carriage 28 is positioned in a well 29 in the base 23 and is supported by a plurality of wheels 31 movable along rails 31 parallel to the axis of the lag 17 and the axis of the reel 29.

The real lifting mechanism 25 comprises a pair of arms 35, each of which is fixedly secured at one end thereof to a shaft 36 of a hydraulic motor 38 that is mounted on the base in a well 39 thereof. The motors 38 are disposed in axially aligned relation to each other and the adjacent ends of the motor shafts 36 are connected to each other by a coupling 46 (FIG. 3), thereby locking the lifting arms 35 in parallel relation to each other for rotation together about a horizontal axis 41 of the shafts 36. Rotation of the motors 38 in either direction is effected by the flow of hydraulic fluid thereto from a suitable supply, the flow of hydraulic fluid and the direction of flow being under control of a manually operable valve 42 (FIG. 2).

Each of the lifting arms 35 comprises a hub portion 43 fixed to the shaft and having a pair of channel bars 44 secured thereto on opposite sides thereof in spaced and parallel relation to each other. At the free ends thereof the bars 44 are tied together by plates 45 secured thereto. As viewed in FIG. 1, the channel bars 44 of each of the arms '55 are longitudinally slotted to provide a guideway with guide rails 48 for supporting a slide or carriage 49 for movement longitudinally of the arm toward and away from the axis 41. Each of the slides 49 is connected to one end of a piston rod 53 of a piston reciprocable within a cylinder 54 of a hydraulically operated actuator 55. The actuator is mounted on the arm 35 between the channel bars 44 and is secured at 5-5 to the end of the hub portion 43. Longitudinal movement of the slides 49 is imparted thereto by hydraulic fluid under pressure from a suitable supply thereof selectively admitted to opposite ends of the cylinders 54 under control of a manually operable valve 53 (FIG. 2).

The slides 49 include bearings 59 and 60 (FIG. 3) provided with coaxially aligned bores for receiving sleeves 61 and 62 therein, respectively. Telescopingly mounted within the sleeves 61 and 62, respectively, are arbors 63 and 64 which have reduced ends 65 for fitting into annular hubs 67 formed on the heads 69 of the reel 20 for supporting the reel for rotation about its axis. The arbor 63 which is splined to the sleeve 61 has a plurality of marks '71 spaced longitudinally thereof in accordance with the width of various sized reels and the arbor is adjustably secured to the sleeve 61 by a set screw 72. The sleeve 61 is rotatable in the bearing 59 and is held against axial movement relative thereto by retaining rings 73. Thus, the arbor 63 is adjustably supported for free rotation and against axial movement relative to the lifting arm 35.

The other arbor 64 is fixedly secured to the sleeve 62 by means of set screws and the sleeve 62 is rotatably and axially movable in the bearing 69 on the other lifting arm 35-. Swivelly attached to one end of the arbor 64 is a piston rod 77, the piston of which is reciprocable within the cylinder 79 of a fluid operated actuator 89. The cylinder 79 is secured to a cross member 81 of a U-shaped frame 82, the arms 83 of which are attached to the bearing 60. Axial movement is imparted to the arbor 64- by hydraulic fluid selectively admitted to opposite ends of the cylinder 79 under control of a manually operated valve 84 (FIG. 2).

Provision is made for rotating the reel 29 when it is in its raised or upright position in the work station 19. To this end, a cross arm 87 is fixedly secured to one end of the arbor 63 (FIGS. 1 and 2), the cross arm having fingers 89 on the ends thereof which extend toward the reel head for lateral engagement with radially disposed reinforcing ribs 90 on the reel head to effect a driving connection with the reel 29. A sprocket 92 is secured to one end of the sleeve 61 and is connected by a chain 93 (FIG. 2) to a drive sprocket 94 driven from the output shaft of a speed reducing unit 95. The speed reducing unit is mounted on a supporting plate 97 (FIG. 2) and is connected to and driven by a motor 98 which is also secured to the plate 97 (FIG. 1). The plate 97 is slidably supported on one side of the pair of channel bars 44 and is secured to the slide 49 for sliding movement on the lifting arm 35, the plate 97 being increased in thickness to form a guide rib longitudinally thereof fitting in the guideway between the channel bars 44.

Through a flexible cable (not shown) the motor is connected to a source of power and is actuated under control of the operator by means of a switch 99 (FIG. 2). The control switch 99' for the motor 98 and the valves 42, 58 and 84 for controlling the hydraulic motors 36, and the actuators 55 and 80, respectively, are mounted together with other control elements of the cabling machine on a console lill which is supported on the base 23 on one side of the lagging machine adjacent to the reel lifting echanism 25.

As indicated hereinbefore the reels are of various sizes and may be relatively small as indicated in full lines in FIG. 1 or relatively large as indicated in dotted lines in the same figure. In setting up the lifting mechanism 25 preparatory to lagging reels of a predetermined size, the set screw 72 in the arbor sleeve 61 is loosened, the arbor 63 adjusted longitudinally by registering a selected indicia mark 71 with the end of the sleeve 61 in accordance with the width of the reel to be lagged, and the set screw 72 is then tightened to secure the arbor 63 to the sleeve. The arbor 64 is moved to its retracted position and the actuators '55 are operated to locate the arbors 63 and 64 in a predetermined position longitudinally of the lifting arms in accordance with the diameter of the reel 20 to be processed.

The reel 20 is then rolled or placed on the carriage 28 in the loading stat-ion .26. Thereafter the hydraulic motors 38 are actuated to turn the lifting arms 35 to the loading position in straddling relation to the reel 20 and with the arbors 63, 64 coaxially aligned wih the reel hubs 67, after which the arbor actuator 80 is operated by means of the valve 84 to cause the arbor 64 to advance into engagement with the hub 67 of the reel and move the reel 20 and the carriage 28 toward the arbor 63 and effect the engagement of the other hub '67 with the end of the other arbor 63. In this position, the reel 29 is aligned longitudinally with the lag conveyor 16 and the row of lags 17 thereon and is connected to the arbors 63 and 64 for movement therewith. The operator then manipulates the valve 42 to cause the motors 38 to rotate the lifting arms 35 to a vertical position in which it is stopped with the reel 20 supported by the arbors above the end portion of the conveyor 16 and with the lower portion of the rims of the reel located above and substantially tangent with the row of lags l7.

Thereafter, the reel is lagged in a well known manner which includes the steps of attaching a single lag to the rims by means of a clamping bar and attaching one end of a lag holding cable and a pair of metal bands to the bar. The reel is then turned on its axis to bring the attached lag adjacent to the conveyor, after which the conveyor 16 and the motor 98 are actuated to effect the rotation of the reel 20 and the application of a row of lags 17 around the reel. The conveyor 16 and the motor 98 are then stopped, the lags being held against the reel by the lag holding cable. The bands are then severed and drawn tightly about the lags with the ends of the bands in overlapping relation to each other, after which seals are applied to secure the ends of the band together and thus secure lags to the reel.

On completion of the lagging of the reel 24 the hydraulic motors 38 are actuated to cause the lifting arms 35 to return the reel Zil to the loading position, after which the actuator 34} is operated to retract the arbor 64 and permit the removal of the reel from the reel lifting mechanism 25 and the loading station 26.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are simply illustrative of the application of the principles of this invention. Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. Reel handling mechanism comprising a pair of parallel laterally spaced lifting arms, mounting means for supporting said arms at one end thereof for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, arbor means mounted on said arms parallel to said axis for supporting the reel for rotation thereon, means on said arms for moving said arbor means toward and from said axis, means for turning said arms about said axis to raise and lower the reel, and means on one of said arms for rotating said arbor means to impart rotation to the reel.

2. Reel handling mechanism comprising a pairof parallel laterally spaced lifting arms, mounting means for supporting said arms at one end thereof for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, an arbor mounted on each of said arms in coaxial relation to each other and in parallel relation to said axis for supporting the reel therebetween, means on one of said arms for moving one of said arbors axially toward and from the other arbor, means on said arms for moving said arbors longitudinally of said arms toward and from said axis, means for turning said arms about said axis to raise and lower the reel, and means on one of said arms for rotating one of said arbors to impart rotation to the reel.

3. Apparatus for lifting and supporting a reel in a work station comprising a base, means on said base for supporting reels of various sizes for horizontal movement along a straight path in a loading station below and adjacent to the work station, a pair of laterally spaced parallel lifting arms, means on said base for supporting said arms at one end thereof for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis disposed below the work station parallel to said path, a pair of arbors for supporting the reel, means for mounting one of said arbors on one of said arms in spaced and parallel relation to said axis and against axial movement, means for mounting the other arbor on the other arm in coaxial alignment with said first arbor and for axial movement relative thereto, means on said other arm for moving said other arbor axially, means on said arms for moving said arbors longitudinally of said arms toward and away from said first axis, and means for turning said arms about said first axis to and from the loading and the work stations.

4. An apparatus for supporting and rotating a reel at a work station and for moving the reel to and from the work station and a loading station comprising a base, a pair of laterally spaced parallel lifting arms, means on said base for supporting said arms at one end thereof for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis disposed below the work station, a pair of arbors for engaging and supporting the reel, means for mounting said arbors on said arms in coaxial alignment with each other and in parallel relation to said first axis for relative axial movement therebetween, means on one of said arms for effecting relative axial movement between said arbors into and out of engagement with said reel, means on said arms for moving said arbors toward and away from said axis, means on one of said arms for rotating said arbor thereon to impart rotation to the reel, and means for turning said arms about said first axis to raise and lower the reel to and from the loading and work stations.

5. In a lagging apparatus having a base and a con veyor for advancing a row of lags horizontally to a work station above and adjacent to a loading station, the combination therewith of a pair of lifting arms for straddling reels of various sizes, means on said base for supporting said arms at one end thereof for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis disposed below the work station, a carriage supported on said base at said loading station for movement parallel to said axis for supporting the reel thereon, a first arbor, means for securing said first arbor on one of said arms in parallel relation to said axis and for axial adjustment relative to said arm, a second arbor mounted on the other arm in coaxial alignment with said first arbor and for axial movement, means on said other arm for moving said second arbor axially toward said first arbor into engagement with a reel at the loading station to effect the movement of the reel and the carriage toward said first arbor and the clamping of the reel between said arbors, means for turning said arms about said axis to and from said loading station and said work station, means on one of said arbors for effecting a driving engagement with the reel, and means on one of said arms for rotating said arbor with said driving engagement.

6. In a lagging apparatus having a base for supporting a reel thereon in a loading station and having a horizontal conveyor for advancing a row of lags at a predetermined level above the base to a work station above and adjacent to the loading station, the combination therewith of a pair of laterally spaced parallel lifting arms, means on said base for supporting said arms at one end thereof for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis below said work station, a pair of arbors on said arms for supporting the reel for rotation thereon, means for mounting said arbors on said arms in coaxial alignment with each other and in parallel relation to said first axis and for relative axial movement therebetween, means on one of said arms for effecting axial movement of one of said arbors, means for turning said arms about said axis to a loading position for straddling reels of different sizes at the loading station and to an upright position for supporting a reel at said work station above the row of lags, an element on one of said arbors engageable with the reel for efiecting a driving connection therewith, means on one of said arms for rotating said arbor having said driving element thereon, and means on said arms for moving said arbors longitudinally of said arms toward and away from said first axis.

7. In an apparatus having a base and a conveyor mounted on the base for advancing a row of lags horizontally to a work station above and adjacent to a loading station, the combination therewith of a first motor means mounted on the base beneath the work station and having a motor shaft, a pair of lifting arms secured at one end to the motor shaft for oscillatory movement about the axis of said shaft to and from the loading and Work stations, said arms having longitudinally disposed guideways, a pair of bearing blocks slidably mounted on said arms in said guideways, a pair of first actuators mounted on said arms for moving said bearing blocks longitudinal- 1y on said arms, a sleeve mounted in one of said bearing blocks for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of said shaft and against axial movement, a first arbor for engaging the reel slidably mounted in said sleeve, means for adjustably securing said first arbor to said sleeve, a second arbor mounted in the other one of said bearing blocks in coaxial alignment with said first arbor for rotary and axial movement, a second actuator for moving said second arbor axially means for supporting said second actuator in fixed relation to said other bearing block for movement therewith, means including a second motor mounted on one of said arms for rotating said sleeve and said first arbor to impart rotation to the reel, and control means for eifecting the selective operation of said first and second motor and said first and said second actuators.

References Cited in the file of this patent Moser et a1. July 11, 

5. IN A LAGGING APPARATUS HAVING A BASE AND A CONVEYOR FOR ADVANCING A ROW OF LAGS HORIZONTALLY TO A WORK STATION ABOVE AND ADJACENT TO A LOADING STATION, THE COMBINATION THEREWITH OF A PAIR OF LIFTING ARMS FOR STRADDLING REELS OF VARIOUS SIZES, MEANS ON SAID BASE FOR SUPPORTING SAID ARMS AT ONE END THEREOF FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT A HORIZONTAL AXIS DISPOSED BELOW THE WORK STATION, A CARRIAGE SUPPORTED ON SAID BASE AT SAID LOADING STATION FOR MOVEMENT PARALLEDL TO SAID AXIS FOR SUPPORTING THE REEL THEREON, A FIRST ARBOR, MEANS FOR SECURING SAID FIRST ARBOR ON ONE OF SAID ARMS IN PARALLEL RELATION TO SAID AXIS AND FOR AXIAL ADJUSTMENT RELATIVE TO SAID ARM, A SECOND ARBOR MOUNTED ON THE OTHER ARM IN COAXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID FIRST ARBOR AND FOR AXIAL MOVEMENT, MEANS ON SAID OTHER ARM FOR MOVING SAID SECOND ARBOR AXIALLY TOWARD SAID FIRST ARBOR INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH A REEL AT THE LOADING STATION TO EFFECT THE MOVEMENT OF THE REEL AND THE CARRIAGE TOWARD SAID FIRST ARBOR AND THE CLAMPING OF THE REEL BETWEEN SAID ARBORS, MEANS FOR TURNING SAID ARMS ABOUT SAID AXIS TO AND FROM SAID LOADING STATION AND SAID WORK STATION, MEANS ON ONE OF SAID ARBORS FOR EFFECTING A DRIVING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE REEL, AND MEANS ON ONE OF SAID ARMS FOR ROTATING SAID ARBOR WITH SAID DRIVING ENGAGEMENT. 